CHINA-KAZAKHSTAN: LABOUR DISPUTE
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Citing Kazakhstan's KAZ Minerals company, Tengrinews reported that a large fight broke out between Kazakh and Chinese oil workers of Aktogay mine in Kazakhstan on July 8, 2015. According to police, the fight started in a canteen when one of the Chinese workers complained to the canteen employees about a poor quality meal and small portions. The canteen employees explained to the Chinese worker that the size of the portions was strictly regulated and the amount of food was calculated based on the total number of workers of the enterprise and therefore, they could not offer second helpings. Then, according to the police, Chinese workers began loudly expressing their dissatisfaction ignoring the efforts of their supervisor - also a Chinese - to calm them down. Security staff that was in the canteen tried to resolve the incident and walked the complaining workers out of the canteen. However, the Chinese workers used force against the security personnel and targeted the canteen's cook. A large fight involving over one hundred men erupted.
The press office of the region's Internal Affairs Department said that "as a result, 31 workers were injured, including 1 guard and 21 Chinese nationals. They were taken to the hospitals of Ayagoz town and Ust-Kamenogorsk city.”
(Comment: Aktogay mine is located in eastern Kazakhstan about 250 km away from the Kazakh-Chinese border and is the second largest project developed by KAZ Minerals PLC, Kazakhstan's London-listed copper company. KAZ Minerals focuses on large scale and low cost open pit mining.)
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